Geofenced ai controlled vehicle dynamics

ABSTRACT

A system and method of geofenced control of a vehicle, includes determining a geographic region within which a vehicle is operating; retrieving a geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region within which the vehicle is operating; and applying the retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle to alter the driving dynamics of the vehicle to conform to driving characteristics of the determined geographic region within which the vehicle is operating.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to vehicle driving modes, andin particular, some implementations may relate to control of vehicledriving modes based on geographical considerations.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Computerized controls have become more and more prevalent in vehicularsystems over the past few decades. This has led to an increase in theability to control individual systems according to driving circumstancesor driving preferences. One example of that is the availability ofdifferent driving modes to suit different conditions or differentdriving styles. One early example of this is the Weather Mode thatappeared in vehicles that enabled vehicles to more readily accommodatelow-traction conditions (e.g., snow, ice). When enabled, this modecaused the vehicle to start in second gear instead of first gear from astopped position. Another early example is a computerized throttlemapping that learned driver behavior and adjusted throttle mappingaccording to driver behavior.

Computerized driving mode control has evolved to the point wheredifferent vehicle manufacturers offer a variety of different operatingmodes for their vehicles. Examples of driving modes include Economymode, Comfort mode, Sport mode, Sport Plus mode, and so on. These modesmay adjust a variety of vehicle parameters such as, for example,throttle mapping, shift points, chassis control, steering control, andso on. As a further example, when a Sport mode is selected, the vehiclemay be reprogrammed to provide later up shifts and sooner downshifts,harder suspension damping, more aggressive throttle mapping and moreresponsive steering. In contrast, when an Economy mode is selected, thevehicle may be reprogrammed to provide sooner up shifts and a lessaggressive throttle response.

Driving modes are not limited to conventional ICE vehicles, but alsoapply to hybrid vehicles, e-hybrid electric vehicles, electric vehiclesfuel-cell vehicles, and so on. Further, driving modes may be applied toautonomous vehicles as well to tailor the vehicle to passengerpreferences.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to various embodiments of the disclosed technology systems andmethods for vehicles may automatically configure operating parametersthat relate to vehicle responsiveness or behavior in accordance with thelocation in which the vehicle is being operated. Crowd sourced the datasuch as V2X data, including driver and vehicle data, can be collectedand evaluated to determine driving characteristics in differentgeographic locations or within defined geofences. Acceleration andbraking styles, lane change styles, turn signal utilization, drivingspeeds and other operating characteristics can be collected from thesesources, learned and used to build geo-profiles within the variousgeofences. These profiles can be used automatically configure vehiclesso that the vehicle operation is more appropriate in view of surroundingvehicles in a given area in which the vehicle is being operated, or thatmay be more in line with driver expectations for vehicle performance orbehavior.

A method of geofenced control of a vehicle may include: determining ageographic region within which a vehicle is operating; retrieving ageo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region withinwhich the vehicle is operating; and applying the retrieved geo-profileto the vehicle to alter the driving dynamics of the vehicle to conformto driving characteristics of the determined geographic region withinwhich the vehicle is operating. The method may further includedetermining whether an available geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle.

Determining whether an available geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle mayinclude determining whether the subject vehicle includes vehicle systemsthat are controllable by the geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region.

The geo-profile may identify a driving mode of the vehicle, and applyingthe geo-profile to the vehicle may include placing the vehicle in thedriving mode identified by the geo-profile. The geo-profile may identifya plurality of vehicle settings, and applying the geo-profile to thevehicle may include applying one or more of those vehicle settings tothe vehicle.

The method may further include gathering vehicle operatingcharacteristics data from a plurality of other vehicles operating in ageographic region and constructing a geo-profile based on the vehicleoperating characteristics data for the geographic region. The method mayfurther include gathering vehicle operating characteristics data from aplurality of infrastructure elements in a geographic region andconstructing a geo-profile based on the vehicle operatingcharacteristics data for the geographic region.

The geo-profile may be stored external to the vehicle and retrieving thegeo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic may includereceiving at the vehicle the geo-profile from an external storagelocation. The vehicle may retrieve the geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region from a storage location on board thevehicle.

In some embodiments, a profile system external to the vehicle receivesthe position information to determine the geographic region within whichthe vehicle is operating, identifies a geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region, retrieves the geo-profile corresponding tothe determined geographic region and since the retrieved geo-profile tothe vehicle.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium having instructions storedtherein, which when executed by a processor, cause the processor toperform operations, the operations may include: determining a geographicregion within which a vehicle is operating; retrieving a geo-profilecorresponding to the determined geographic region within which thevehicle is operating; and applying the retrieved geo-profile to thevehicle to alter the driving dynamics of the vehicle to conform todriving characteristics of the determined geographic region within whichthe vehicle is operating. The operations may further include determiningwhether an available geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle. The vehiclemay retrieve the geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographicregion from a storage location on board the vehicle for from an externallocation.

Determining whether an available geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle mayinclude determining whether the subject vehicle includes vehicle systemsthat are controllable by the geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region. The geo-profile may identify a driving mode of thevehicle, and wherein applying the geo-profile to the vehicle may includeplacing the vehicle in the driving mode identified by the geo-profile.The geo-profile may identify a plurality of vehicle settings, andwherein applying the geo-profile to the vehicle may include applying oneor more of those vehicle settings to the vehicle.

The operations may further include gathering vehicle operatingcharacteristics data from a plurality of other vehicles operating in ageographic region and constructing a geo-profile based on the vehicleoperating characteristics data for the geographic region.

The operations may further include gathering vehicle operatingcharacteristics data from a plurality of infrastructure elements in ageographic region and constructing a geo-profile based on the vehicleoperating characteristics data for the geographic region.

The geo-profile may be stored external to the vehicle and retrieving thegeo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic may includereceiving at the vehicle the geo-profile from an external storagelocation.

In some embodiments, a profile system external to the vehicle receivesthe position information to determine the geographic region within whichthe vehicle is operating, identifies a geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region, retrieves the geo-profile corresponding tothe determined geographic region and since the retrieved geo-profile tothe vehicle.

A vehicle control system, may include: a position determination systemto determine a geographic region within which a vehicle is operating; adriving mode circuit to retrieve a geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region within which the vehicle is operating; andwherein the driving mode circuit is further configured to apply theretrieved geo-profile to the vehicle to alter the driving dynamics ofthe vehicle to conform to driving characteristics of the determinedgeographic region within which the vehicle is operating.

The driving mode circuit may be further configured to determine whetheran available geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographicregion is compatible with the subject vehicle. Determining whether anavailable geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic regionis compatible with the subject vehicle may include determining whetherthe subject vehicle includes vehicle systems that are controllable bythe geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region.

The geo-profile may identify a driving mode of the vehicle, and whereinapplying the geo-profile to the vehicle may include placing the vehiclein the driving mode identified by the geo-profile. The geo-profile mayidentify a plurality of vehicle settings, and wherein applying thegeo-profile to the vehicle may include applying one or more of thosevehicle settings to the vehicle.

The vehicle control system may further include a profile systemgathering vehicle operating characteristics data from a plurality ofother vehicles operating in a geographic region and constructing ageo-profile based on the vehicle operating characteristics data for thegeographic region.

Other features and aspects of the disclosed technology will becomeapparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, thefeatures in accordance with embodiments of the disclosed technology. Thesummary is not intended to limit the scope of any inventions describedherein, which are defined solely by the claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingfigures. The figures are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an example hybrid vehicle withwhich embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein may beimplemented.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example architecture for geofenced AI controlledvehicle dynamics in accordance with one embodiment of the systems andmethods described herein.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process for geofenced AI controlledvehicle dynamics in accordance with one embodiment of the systems andmethods described herein.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example system for geofenced AI controlled vehicledynamics in accordance with one embodiment of the systems and methodsdescribed herein.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example system for applying geo-profiles to avehicle in a geofence region in accordance with one embodiment of thesystems and methods described herein

FIG. 6 illustrates an example computing component that may be used toimplement various features of embodiments described in the presentdisclosure.

The figures are not exhaustive and do not limit the present disclosureto the precise form disclosed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein can providesystems and methods for vehicles to automatically configure operatingparameters that relate to vehicle responsiveness or behavior inaccordance with the location in which the vehicle is being operated.Crowd sourced the data such as V2X data, including driver and vehicledata, can be collected and evaluated to determine drivingcharacteristics in different geographic locations or within definedgeofences. Acceleration and braking styles, lane change styles, turnsignal utilization, driving speeds and other operating characteristicscan be collected from these sources, learned and used to buildgeo-profiles within the various geofences. These profiles can be usedautomatically configure vehicles so that the vehicle operation is moreappropriate in view of surrounding vehicles in a given area in which thevehicle is being operated, or that may be more in line with driverexpectations for vehicle performance or behavior.

Data analytics and AI/ML technologies can be used to collect and analyzethe data and build models for vehicle geo-profiles for variousgeographic regions. The profiles can be stored in the vehicles are inthe cloud, and retrieved and applied when a vehicle enters a particulararea. They can also be pushed to vehicles as vehicles travel from areato area. In further embodiments, geo-profiles for a vehicle can be setbased on the operator's place of residence or other “home base” ofoperations. The geo-profiles may be applied to conventional vehicles,semi-autonomous vehicles and fully autonomous vehicles.

Semi-autonomous functions such as adaptive cruise control settings (e.g.following distances or other behavior) can be adapted to be more in linewith surrounding vehicles. For example, cruise control settings can beadjusted to respond differently to vehicles that are cutting in front ofor potentially cutting in front of the subject vehicle based on known orlearned driver behaviors in the area.

Autonomous functions can likewise be set so that the autonomous vehicleoperates in a way that is more easily anticipated, or in a way it isexpected, by surrounding drivers. For example, where the norm is toyield more easily, the vehicle can be programmed to do so.

As noted above, operator-related functions such as throttle mapping andsuspension settings might be configured for the operator to conform tothe geographic location. For example, cities with aggressive drivers maybe an area where the driver prefers a more aggressive throttle mapping.As another example, curving country roads might be areas where thevehicle is configured for tighter suspension and more aggressivedownshifts.

FIG. 1 is an example vehicle with which the technology disclosed hereinmay be implemented. The systems and methods disclosed herein may beimplemented with any of a number of different vehicles and vehicletypes. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be usedwith automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles and otherlike on- or off-road vehicles. In addition, the principals disclosedherein may also extend to other vehicle types as well. An example hybridelectric vehicle (HEV) in which embodiments of the disclosed technologymay be implemented is illustrated in FIG. 1. Although the exampledescribed with reference to FIG. 1 is a hybrid type of vehicle, thesystems and methods for geofenced AI controlled vehicle dynamics can beimplemented in other types of vehicle including gasoline- ordiesel-powered vehicles, fuel-cell vehicles, electric vehicles, or othervehicles.

FIG. 1 illustrates a drive system of a vehicle 2 that may include aninternal combustion engine 14 and one or more electric motors 22 (whichmay also serve as generators) as sources of motive power. Driving forcegenerated by the internal combustion engine 14 and motors 22 can betransmitted to one or more wheels 34 via a torque converter 16, atransmission 18, a differential gear device 28, and a pair of axles 30.

As an HEV, vehicle 2 may be driven/powered with either or both of engine14 and the motor(s) 22 as the drive source for travel. For example, afirst travel mode may be an engine-only travel mode that only usesinternal combustion engine 14 as the source of motive power. A secondtravel mode may be an EV travel mode that only uses the motor(s) 22 asthe source of motive power. A third travel mode may be an HEV travelmode that uses engine 14 and the motor(s) 22 as the sources of motivepower. In the engine-only and HEV travel modes, vehicle 2 relies on themotive force generated at least by internal combustion engine 14, and aclutch 15 may be included to engage engine 14. In the EV travel mode,vehicle 2 is powered by the motive force generated by motor 22 whileengine 14 may be stopped and clutch 15 disengaged.

Engine 14 can be an internal combustion engine such as a gasoline,diesel or similarly powered engine in which fuel is injected into andcombusted in a combustion chamber. A cooling system 12 can be providedto cool the engine 14 such as, for example, by removing excess heat fromengine 14. For example, cooling system 12 can be implemented to includea radiator, a water pump and a series of cooling channels. In operation,the water pump circulates coolant through the engine 14 to absorb excessheat from the engine. The heated coolant is circulated through theradiator to remove heat from the coolant, and the cold coolant can thenbe recirculated through the engine. A fan may also be included toincrease the cooling capacity of the radiator. The water pump, and insome instances the fan, may operate via a direct or indirect coupling tothe driveshaft of engine 14. In other applications, either or both thewater pump and the fan may be operated by electric current such as frombattery 44.

An output control circuit 14A may be provided to control drive (outputtorque) of engine 14. Output control circuit 14A may include a throttleactuator to control an electronic throttle valve that controls fuelinjection, an ignition device that controls ignition timing, and thelike. Output control circuit 14A may execute output control of engine 14according to a command control signal(s) supplied from an electroniccontrol unit 50, described below. Such output control can include, forexample, throttle control, fuel injection control, and ignition timingcontrol.

Motor 22 can also be used to provide motive power in vehicle 2 and ispowered electrically via a battery 44. Battery 44 may be implemented asone or more batteries or other power storage devices including, forexample, lead-acid batteries, lithium ion batteries, capacitive storagedevices, and so on. Battery 44 may be charged by a battery charger 45that receives energy from internal combustion engine 14. For example, analternator or generator may be coupled directly or indirectly to a driveshaft of internal combustion engine 14 to generate an electrical currentas a result of the operation of internal combustion engine 14. A clutchcan be included to engage/disengage the battery charger 45. Batterycharger 45 may also charge battery 44 using electricity from anelectrical outlet, and vehicle charging system, and so on. Battery 44may also be charged by motor 22 such as, for example, by regenerativebraking or by coasting during which time motor 22 operate as generator.

Motor 22 can be powered by battery 44 to generate a motive force to movethe vehicle and adjust vehicle speed. Motor 22 can also function as agenerator to generate electrical power such as, for example, whencoasting or braking. Battery 44 may also be used to power otherelectrical or electronic systems in the vehicle. Motor 22 may beconnected to battery 44 via an inverter 42. Battery 44 can include, forexample, one or more batteries, capacitive storage units, or otherstorage reservoirs suitable for storing electrical energy that can beused to power motor 22. When battery 44 is implemented using one or morebatteries, the batteries can include, for example, nickel metal hydridebatteries, lithium ion batteries, lead acid batteries, nickel cadmiumbatteries, lithium ion polymer batteries, and other types of batteries.

An electronic control unit 50 (described below) may be included and maycontrol the electric drive components of the vehicle as well as othervehicle components. For example, electronic control unit 50 may controlinverter 42, adjust driving current supplied to motor 22, and adjust thecurrent received from motor 22 during regenerative coasting andbreaking. As a more particular example, output torque of the motor 22can be increased or decreased by electronic control unit 50 through theinverter 42.

A torque converter 16 can be included to control the application ofpower from engine 14 and motor 22 to transmission 18. Torque converter16 can include a viscous fluid coupling that transfers rotational powerfrom the motive power source to the driveshaft via the transmission.Torque converter 16 can include a conventional torque converter or alockup torque converter. In other embodiments, a mechanical clutch canbe used in place of torque converter 16.

Clutch 15 can be included to engage and disengage engine 14 from thedrivetrain of the vehicle. In the illustrated example, a crankshaft 32,which is an output member of engine 14, may be selectively coupled tothe motor 22 and torque converter 16 via clutch 15. Clutch 15 can beimplemented as, for example, a multiple disc type hydraulic frictionalengagement device whose engagement is controlled by an actuator such asa hydraulic actuator. Clutch 15 may be controlled such that itsengagement state is complete engagement, slip engagement, and completedisengagement complete disengagement, depending on the pressure appliedto the clutch. For example, a torque capacity of clutch 15 may becontrolled according to the hydraulic pressure supplied from a hydrauliccontrol circuit (not illustrated). When clutch 15 is engaged, powertransmission is provided in the power transmission path between thecrankshaft 32 and torque converter 16. On the other hand, when clutch 15is disengaged, motive power from engine 14 is not delivered to thetorque converter 16. In a slip engagement state, clutch 15 is engaged,and motive power is provided to torque converter 16 according to atorque capacity (transmission torque) of the clutch 15.

As alluded to above, vehicle 2 may include an electronic control unit50. Electronic control unit 50 may include circuitry to control variousaspects of the vehicle operation. Electronic control unit 50 mayinclude, for example, a microcomputer that includes a one or moreprocessing units (e.g., microprocessors), memory storage (e.g., RAM,ROM, etc.), and I/O devices. The processing units of electronic controlunit 50, execute instructions stored in memory to control one or moreelectrical systems or subsystems in the vehicle. Electronic control unit50 can include a plurality of electronic control units such as, forexample, an electronic engine control module, a powertrain controlmodule, a transmission control module, a suspension control module, abody control module, and so on. As a further example, electronic controlunits can be included to control systems and functions such as doors anddoor locking, lighting, human-machine interfaces, cruise control,telematics, braking systems (e.g., ABS or ESC), battery managementsystems, and so on. These various control units can be implemented usingtwo or more separate electronic control units, or using a singleelectronic control unit.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, electronic control unit 50receives information from a plurality of sensors included in vehicle 2.For example, electronic control unit 50 may receive signals thatindicate vehicle operating conditions or characteristics, or signalsthat can be used to derive vehicle operating conditions orcharacteristics. These may include, but are not limited to acceleratoroperation amount, A_(CC), a revolution speed, N_(E), of internalcombustion engine 14 (engine RPM), a rotational speed, N_(MS), of themotor 22 (motor rotational speed), and vehicle speed, N_(V). These mayalso include torque converter 16 output, N_(T) (e.g., output ampsindicative of motor output), brake operation amount/pressure, B, batterySOC (i.e., the charged amount for battery 44 detected by an SOC sensor).Accordingly, vehicle 2 can include a plurality of sensors 52 that can beused to detect various conditions internal or external to the vehicleand provide sensed conditions to engine control unit 50 (which, again,may be implemented as one or a plurality of individual controlcircuits). In one embodiment, sensors 52 may be included to detect oneor more conditions directly or indirectly such as, for example, fuelefficiency, E_(F), motor efficiency, E_(MG), hybrid (internal combustionengine 14+MG 12) efficiency, acceleration, A_(CC), etc.

In some embodiments, one or more of the sensors 52 may include their ownprocessing capability to compute the results for additional informationthat can be provided to electronic control unit 50. In otherembodiments, one or more sensors may be data-gathering-only sensors thatprovide only raw data to electronic control unit 50. In furtherembodiments, hybrid sensors may be included that provide a combinationof raw data and processed data to electronic control unit 50. Sensors 52may provide an analog output or a digital output.

Sensors 52 may be included to detect not only vehicle conditions butalso to detect external conditions as well. Sensors that might be usedto detect external conditions can include, for example, sonar, radar,lidar or other vehicle proximity sensors, and cameras or other imagesensors. Image sensors can be used to detect, for example, traffic signsindicating a current speed limit, road curvature, obstacles, and so on.Still other sensors may include those that can detect road grade. Whilesome sensors can be used to actively detect passive environmentalobjects, other sensors can be included and used to detect active objectssuch as those objects used to implement smart roadways that may activelytransmit and/or receive data or other information.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example architecture for implementing geo-profilesin accordance with one embodiment of the systems and methods describedherein. Referring now to FIG. 2, in this example, geofenced vehicledynamics system 200 includes a driving mode circuit 210, a plurality ofsensors 152, and a plurality of vehicle systems 158. Sensors 152 andvehicle systems 158 can communicate with driving mode circuit 210 via awired or wireless communication interface. Although sensors 152 andvehicle systems 158 are depicted as communicating with driving modecircuit 210, they can also communicate with each other as well as withother vehicle systems. driving mode circuit 210 can be implemented as anECU or as part of an ECU such as, for example electronic control unit50. In other embodiments, driving mode circuit 210 can be implementedindependently of the ECU.

Driving mode circuit 210 in this example includes a communicationcircuit 201, a decision circuit 203 (including a processor 206 andmemory 208 in this example) and a power supply 212. Components ofdriving mode circuit 210 are illustrated as communicating with eachother via a data bus, although other communication in interfaces can beincluded. driving mode circuit 210 in this example also includes amanual mode select switch 205 that can be operated by the user tomanually select vehicle operating modes.

Processor 206 can include a GPU, CPU, microprocessor, or any othersuitable processing system. The memory 208 may include one or morevarious forms of memory or data storage (e.g., flash, RAM, etc.) thatmay be used to store the calibration parameters, images (analysis orhistoric), point parameters, instructions and variables for processor206 as well as any other suitable information. Memory 208, can be madeup of one or more modules of one or more different types of memory, andmay be configured to store data and other information as well asoperational instructions that may be used by the processor 206 todriving mode circuit 210.

Although the example of FIG. 2 is illustrated using processor and memorycircuitry, as described below with reference to circuits disclosedherein, decision circuit 203 can be implemented utilizing any form ofcircuitry including, for example, hardware, software, or a combinationthereof. By way of further example, one or more processors, controllers,ASICs, PLAs, PALs, CPLDs, FPGAs, logical components, software routinesor other mechanisms might be implemented to make up a driving modecircuit 210.

Communication circuit 201 either or both a wireless transceiver circuit202 with an associated antenna 214 and a wired I/O interface 204 with anassociated hardwired data port (not illustrated). As this exampleillustrates, communications with driving mode circuit 210 can includeeither or both wired and wireless communications circuits 201. Wirelesstransceiver circuit 202 can include a transmitter and a receiver (notshown) to allow wireless communications via any of a number ofcommunication protocols such as, for example, WiFi, Bluetooth, nearfield communications (NFC), Zigbee, and any of a number of otherwireless communication protocols whether standardized, proprietary,open, point-to-point, networked or otherwise. Antenna 214 is coupled towireless transceiver circuit 202 and is used by wireless transceivercircuit 202 to transmit radio signals wirelessly to wireless equipmentwith which it is connected and to receive radio signals as well. TheseRF signals can include information of almost any sort that is sent orreceived by driving mode circuit 210 to/from other entities such assensors 152 and vehicle systems 158. Wireless transceiver circuit 202can be used to provide wireless communications with sensors 152, vehiclesystems 158 and components or systems external to the vehicle such as,for example, other vehicles, infrastructure elements, cloud servers, andso on.

Wired I/O interface 204 can include a transmitter and a receiver (notshown) for hardwired communications with other devices. For example,wired I/O interface 204 can provide a hardwired interface to othercomponents, including sensors 152 and vehicle systems 158. Wired I/Ointerface 204 can communicate with other devices using Ethernet or anyof a number of other wired communication protocols whether standardized,proprietary, open, point-to-point, networked or otherwise.

Power supply 212 can include one or more of a battery or batteries (suchas, e.g., Li-ion, Li-Polymer, NiMH, NiCd, NiZn, and NiH₂, to name a few,whether rechargeable or primary batteries), a power connector (e.g., toconnect to vehicle supplied power, etc.), an energy harvester (e.g.,solar cells, piezoelectric system, etc.), or it can include any othersuitable power supply.

Sensors 152 can include, for example, sensors 52 such as those describedabove with reference to the example of FIG. 1. Sensors 152 can includeadditional sensors that may or not otherwise be included on a standardvehicle 2 with which the geofenced vehicle dynamics system 200 isimplemented. In the illustrated example, sensors 152 include vehicleacceleration sensors 212, vehicle speed sensors 214, wheelspin sensors216 (e.g., one for each wheel), wheel-travel sensors 220 (e.g., one foreach wheel), accelerometers such as a 3-axis accelerometer 222 to detectroll, pitch and yaw of the vehicle, vehicle clearance sensors 224 (e.g.,to detect following distances), lane change sensors 226, andmanual-mode-setting sensors 228 (e.g., to detect operating modesselected manually by a vehicle occupant) and braking sensors 230.Additional sensors 232 can also be included as may be appropriate for agiven implementation of geofenced vehicle dynamics system 200. Thesesensors 152 may be used to gather data that can be used to evaluatedriving behaviors for the vehicle.

Vehicle systems 158 can include any of a number of different vehiclecomponents or subsystems used to control or monitor various aspects ofthe vehicle and its performance. In this example, the vehicle systems158 include a GPS or other vehicle positioning system 272; torquesplitters 274 that control distribution of power among the vehiclewheels such as, for example, by controlling front/rear and left/righttorque split; engine control circuits 276 to control the operation ofengine (e.g. Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) 14); transmission 278;suspension system 280 such as, for example, an adjustable-height airsuspension system or an adjustable-damping suspension system; and othervehicle systems.

During operation, driving mode circuit 210 can receive information fromvarious vehicle sensors to collect information that might be used tobuild geo-profiles and to determine whether an available geo-profileshould be activated. In some embodiments, select switch 205 may beimplemented such that, the driver may manually select an operating mode.This might be used, for example, to override a geo-profile automaticallyimplemented by the vehicle. Manual selection may also be used as anadditional data point when evaluating information to build or updategeo-profiles for various regions. Communication circuit 201 can be usedto transmit and receive information between driving mode circuit 210 andsensors 152, and driving mode circuit 210 and vehicle systems 158. Also,sensors 152 may communicate with vehicle systems 158 directly orindirectly (e.g., via communication circuit 201 or otherwise).

In various embodiments, communication circuit 201 can be configured toreceive data and other information from sensors 152 that is used indetermining whether to activate the assist mode. Additionally,communication circuit 201 can be used to send an activation signal orother activation information to various vehicle systems 158 as part ofimplementing a selected driving mode. For example, as described in moredetail below, communication circuit 201 can be used to send signals toone or more of: torque splitters 274 to control front/rear torque splitand left/right torque split; ICE controllers 276 to, for example,control cylinder activation/deactivation, valve timing, fuel delivery,and so on; suspension system 280 (e.g., to adjust ride height or adjustsuspension damping); and transmission 278 (e.g., to adjust shift pointsor speed of shifting gears). The decision regarding what action to takevia these various vehicle systems 158 can be made based on thegeo-profile selected and loaded for the geofence region in which thevehicle is currently operating. Examples of this are described in moredetail below.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example process for implementing geo-profiles inaccordance with embodiments of the systems and methods disclosed herein.With reference now to FIG. 3, at operation 312 a geofenced vehicledynamics system collects vehicle operating characteristics for aplurality of vehicles in a plurality of different geographic regions.For example, sensor data (e.g., from sensors 52, 152) can be gathered todetermine vehicle operating parameters in different geographic regions.Sensor data can be used, for example, to determine whether a vehicle isbeing operated aggressively, moderately, sedately, and so on. Thisinformation can be used to detect data leading to information such asfollowing distances, acceleration and deceleration rates, vehiclespeeds, speeds in corners, frequency of lane changes, aggressiveness oflane changes, and so on.

Similarly, information from vehicle systems (e.g., vehicle systems 158)may be collected to similar determine vehicle operating parameters indifferent geographic regions. Also, information regarding driving modesselected for a vehicle in various geographic regions may also becollected.

In addition to information from a plurality of vehicles, infrastructureinformation may also be collected to determine driving behaviors invarious geographic regions. For example, roadway and other smart-highwaysensors used to monitor traffic behavior and traffic flow can detectinformation relevant to determining driving styles for geographicregions including, for example, vehicle speeds, following distances,propensity to run traffic lights, aggressiveness of lane changes, and soon. Other sources of information may also be used such as, for example,third-party data services that may provide data or other informationrelating to driving behaviors in various areas.

At operation 314, the information is collected and correlated bygeofence regions. In this operation, data can be gathered by region.Operation 316, the data can be analyzed to build vehicle dynamicsprofiles when a region-by-region basis. These geo-profiles may specify,for example, driving dynamics for their respective geographic regions.In some embodiments, this can be a relatively high-level specificationsuch as specifying driving dynamics categories in two, three, four,five, six or more different categories. Further to this example,categories might be styled as sedate, mild, moderate, assertive,aggressive and hyper-aggressive. These categories might have a pluralityof vehicle settings associated with each. For example, a mild categorymight have a light throttle mapping, soft suspension setting, soft orisolated steering setting, low shift points, far following distances(e.g., for dynamic cruise control or AV operation), non-aggressive lanechange behavior (e.g., for AV operation), and so on. As another example,aggressive category might have a more aggressive throttle mapping, astiffer suspension setting, a greater level of steering feedback, highershift points, closer following distances (e.g., for dynamic cruisecontrol or AV operation), more aggressive lane change behavior (e.g.,for AV operation), and so on.

In another embodiment, geo-profiles might not be categories, per se, butsimply a collection of vehicle settings that can be loaded to thevehicle to control one or more of the controllable vehicle systems orsettings. Because different vehicles may offer different levels ofcontrollable equipment (e.g., some might not offer adjustablesuspension) each of the available settings might not be applicable toeach of the vehicles in a region. Nonetheless, those that are applicablemay be applied to the vehicle.

At operation 318, the geo-profiles created are stored for recall and usewithin a geofence region. These profiles may be downloaded to thevehicle and stored on board for later recall on the vehicle enters acorresponding geofence region. In another embodiment, the profiles maybe stored remotely (e.g. in a cloud-based or other remote storagesystem) and a profile corresponding to a geofence region may bedownloaded to the vehicle when the vehicle enters that geofence region.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example profile system for building and storinggeo-profiles in accordance with one embodiment. Referring now to FIG. 4,a profile builder 410 is provided along with an associated data store412. Profile builder 410 collects information from a plurality ofdifferent sources to build a plurality of geo-profiles for a pluralityof geofence regions. Profile builder 410 may be, for example, acloud-based server or other computing system, or a distributed computingsystem, to collect information and build geo-profiles for variousgeographic regions. In other implementations, profile builder 410 may bea vehicle-based computing system to gather information and buildprofiles (e.g., implemented as part of driving mode circuit 210) or anedge-based distributed computing platform. As these examples illustrate,profile builder 410 may be implemented utilizing one or more computingresources at one or more various locations.

In the illustrated example, profile builder 410 collects informationfrom infrastructure elements 324 and vehicle elements 326. Theinformation collected can be geo-tagged such that the data can beassociated with a particular geofence region. Profile builder 410gathers the information from these sources, correlates the gatheredinformation to its associated respective geofence region, and analyzesthe information to build geo-profiles for each region. An example ofthis is illustrated at FIG. 3.

In the example illustrated of FIG. 4, vehicle elements 326 from whichinformation may be gathered to build geo-profiles may include vehiclesystems 158 and sensors 152. Particularly, information may be gatheredfrom a position information system such as, for example, from a GPS orother vehicle positioning system 272. Other information from vehicleelements 326 may include sensor data from sensors 152, 52 and systeminformation such as from other vehicle systems 158 that can be analyzedto determine vehicle operating characteristics and driver drivingcharacteristics for the various regions.

Infrastructure elements 324 from which information may be gathered tobuild geo-profiles may include smart signs/sensors 342, pedestriansensors 343, traffic sensors 344, smart roadway elements 345, or otherinfrastructure elements 346. This information can be used, for example,to provide observed information such as, for example, traffic density,following distances, driving behavior, lane change behavior,acceleration/deceleration rates, and so on.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example process by which a vehicle dynamicscontrol system utilizes geo-profiles for geofenced controlled vehicledynamics in accordance with one embodiment of the systems and methodsdisclosed herein. With reference now to FIG. 5, at operation 426 thesystem monitors the current vehicle location. For example, an onboardGPS or other position determination system (e.g., GPS/vehiclepositioning system 272) can monitor the current position of a subjectvehicle. This information may be maintained on board the vehicle such asfor an onboard vehicle dynamics control system (e.g., driving modecircuit 210), or it may be transmitted to a vehicle dynamics controlsystem external to the vehicle.

At operation 428 the system determines whether the vehicle is within ageofenced region and if so, which region the vehicle is currently in.This may be determined, for example, using information from thevehicle's GPS or other position determination system. In one embodiment,the system may compare a current vehicle position (e.g.,latitude/longitude, address, or other position information) withinformation indicating the identification of one or more geofenceregions.

The vehicle is not in an identified geofence region that has a vehicledynamics geo-profile, the vehicle continues to operate in a normaldriving mode at operation 430. For example, the vehicle may continue tooperate in accordance with current vehicle settings. That is, the systemdoes not change the driving mode or the operational parameters of thevehicle. Operation continues at 426 where the system continues tomonitor the vehicle location and check to determine whether it isentered a geofence region with an associated geo-profile.

If the vehicle has entered a geofence region with an associatedgeo-profile, the system searches the profiles at operation 432 todetermine whether there is a geo-profile available that is compatiblewith that vehicle or vehicle type within the geofence region. Forexample, the system may determine whether a profile for that regionaddresses vehicle parameters that may be addressed for that particulartype of vehicle. Examples of determining compatibility may includedetermining whether the subject vehicle includes one or more of thevehicle systems that are compatible with or controllable by the controlsapplied by the geo-profile; determining whether the geo-profile settingsare compatible with the subject vehicle. If a profile does not exist forthe region, or for the vehicle within that region, (as illustrated atoperation 434) the system continues to operate in a normal driving mode(or in its current driving mode) as shown at operation 430.

If, on the other hand, a geo-profile does exist for that vehicle in thatregion, the geo-profile is retrieved at operation 436 and applied to thevehicle at operation 438. In various embodiments, the settingsidentified by the geo-profile, as applicable to the vehicle, are appliedto adjust one or more corresponding vehicle systems. In someembodiments, the geo-profile may operate to select the driving modewithin the vehicle from among a plurality of preprogrammed driving mode.In other embodiments, the geo-profile may operate to adjust variousvehicle systems individually in accordance with the geo-profilerequirements.

For example, an onboard system such as driving mode circuit 210 may beconfigured to retrieve the available geo-profile operation 436 and applythe retrieved geo-profile at operation 438. driving mode circuit 210 mayretrieve the available geo-profile such as by retrieving it from astorage location (e.g., on board the vehicle) or by receiving it from anexternal system such as, for example, an external geo-profile generationsystem.

To apply the profile, driving mode circuit 210 may engage a driving modeof the vehicle corresponding to the retrieved geo-profile. For example,the geo-profile may be tailored to the specific vehicle (e.g.,geo-profile may specify a mode matching a vehicle mode such as ECO mode,SPORT mode, COMFORT mode, etc) such that the geo-profile is specific tothe particular vehicle, the vehicle make and model, the vehicle trim,the particular vehicle configuration, etc. As another example, thegeo-profile may generally correspond to vehicle operating modes suchthat an aggressive profile corresponds to a SPORT mode whereas a moresedate profile may correspond to a COMFORT mode. Driving mode circuit210 may engage a driving mode of the vehicle to match the preferences ofthe driver or passengers automatically as soon as the geo-profile wasapplied.

In another embodiment, to apply the profile, driving mode circuit 210may send specific control signals to various vehicle systems (e.g.,vehicle systems 158) to tailor the system settings according to thegeo-profile. For example, where the retrieved profile is a geo-profileindicating an aggressive profile, driving mode circuit 210 may sendcontrol signals to configure the systems for the most aggressivethrottle mapping, the tightest suspension setting, the lowest vehicleright height, highest shift points, etc., for that particular vehicle.Likewise, where the retrieved profile is a more sedate profile, drivingmode circuit 210 may send control signals to configure the systems forthe least aggressive throttle mapping, the softest suspension setting, anormal vehicle right height, and so on.

If still further embodiments, rather than identify a mode or style, thegeo-profile may specify plurality of vehicle settings corresponding tothe region. The geo-profile might include system settings correspondingto a particular vehicle, or it may include more general system settingsthat could be mapped to a plurality of different vehicles. As an exampleof the latter case, the geo-profile might state throttle mappingsettings such as most aggressive, normal, least aggressive; suspensionsetting such as firm is setting, normal setting, softest setting; and soon. Accordingly, driving mode circuit 210 may be implemented to mapthese geo-profile settings to corresponding vehicle settings.

As these examples illustrate, in some embodiments geo-profiles maycorrespond directly to (or be mappable to) factory-set driving modesavailable for the vehicle, while in other embodiments, geo-profiles mayresult in specific system settings independent of factory-set vehicledriving modes. In still further embodiments, a hybrid approach may betaken in which the geo-profile may correspond to a factory-set drivingmode in which various vehicle parameters within that mode or variousother vehicle parameters are modified according to the geo-profile.

As used herein, the terms circuit and component might describe a givenunit of functionality that can be performed in accordance with one ormore embodiments of the present application. As used herein, a componentmight be implemented utilizing any form of hardware, software, or acombination thereof. For example, one or more processors, controllers,ASICs, PLAs, PALs, CPLDs, FPGAs, logical components, software routinesor other mechanisms might be implemented to make up a component. Variouscomponents described herein may be implemented as discrete components ordescribed functions and features can be shared in part or in total amongone or more components. In other words, as would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art after reading this description, the variousfeatures and functionality described herein may be implemented in anygiven application. They can be implemented in one or more separate orshared components in various combinations and permutations. Althoughvarious features or functional elements may be individually described orclaimed as separate components, it should be understood that thesefeatures/functionality can be shared among one or more common softwareand hardware elements. Such a description shall not require or implythat separate hardware or software components are used to implement suchfeatures or functionality.

Where components are implemented in whole or in part using software,these software elements can be implemented to operate with a computingor processing component capable of carrying out the functionalitydescribed with respect thereto. One such example computing component isshown in FIG. 5. Various embodiments are described in terms of thisexample-computing component 500. After reading this description, it willbecome apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art how to implementthe application using other computing components or architectures.

Referring now to FIG. 5, computing component 500 may represent, forexample, computing or processing capabilities found within aself-adjusting display, desktop, laptop, notebook, and tablet computers.They may be found in hand-held computing devices (tablets, PDA's, smartphones, cell phones, palmtops, etc.). They may be found in workstationsor other devices with displays, servers, or any other type ofspecial-purpose or general-purpose computing devices as may be desirableor appropriate for a given application or environment. Computingcomponent 500 might also represent computing capabilities embeddedwithin or otherwise available to a given device. For example, acomputing component might be found in other electronic devices such as,for example, portable computing devices, and other electronic devicesthat might include some form of processing capability.

Computing component 500 might include, for example, one or moreprocessors, controllers, control components, or other processingdevices. Processor 504 might be implemented using a general-purpose orspecial-purpose processing engine such as, for example, amicroprocessor, controller, or other control logic. Processor 504 may beconnected to a bus 502. However, any communication medium can be used tofacilitate interaction with other components of computing component 500or to communicate externally.

Computing component 500 might also include one or more memorycomponents, simply referred to herein as main memory 508. For example,random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory, might be used forstoring information and instructions to be executed by processor 504.Main memory 508 might also be used for storing temporary variables orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 504. Computing component 500 might likewiseinclude a read only memory (“ROM”) or other static storage devicecoupled to bus 502 for storing static information and instructions forprocessor 504.

The computing component 500 might also include one or more various formsof information storage mechanism 510, which might include, for example,a media drive 512 and a storage unit interface 520. The media drive 512might include a drive or other mechanism to support fixed or removablestorage media 514. For example, a hard disk drive, a solid-state drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical drive, a compact disc (CD) or digitalvideo disc (DVD) drive (R or RW), or other removable or fixed mediadrive might be provided. Storage media 514 might include, for example, ahard disk, an integrated circuit assembly, magnetic tape, cartridge,optical disk, a CD or DVD. Storage media 514 may be any other fixed orremovable medium that is read by, written to or accessed by media drive512. As these examples illustrate, the storage media 514 can include acomputer usable storage medium having stored therein computer softwareor data.

In alternative embodiments, information storage mechanism 510 mightinclude other similar instrumentalities for allowing computer programsor other instructions or data to be loaded into computing component 500.Such instrumentalities might include, for example, a fixed or removablestorage unit 522 and an interface 520. Examples of such storage units522 and interfaces 520 can include a program cartridge and cartridgeinterface, a removable memory (for example, a flash memory or otherremovable memory component) and memory slot. Other examples may includea PCMCIA slot and card, and other fixed or removable storage units 522and interfaces 520 that allow software and data to be transferred fromstorage unit 522 to computing component 500.

Computing component 500 might also include a communications interface524. Communications interface 524 might be used to allow software anddata to be transferred between computing component 500 and externaldevices. Examples of communications interface 524 might include a modemor softmodem, a network interface (such as Cellular, Ethernet, networkinterface card, IEEE 802.XX or other interface). Other examples includea communications port (such as for example, a USB port, IR port, RS232port Bluetooth® interface, or other port), or other communicationsinterface. Software/data transferred via communications interface 524may be carried on signals, which can be electronic, electromagnetic(which includes optical) or other signals capable of being exchanged bya given communications interface 524. These signals might be provided tocommunications interface 524 via a channel 528. Channel 528 might carrysignals and might be implemented using a wired or wireless communicationmedium. Some examples of a channel might include a phone line, acellular link, an RF link, an optical link, a network interface, a localor wide area network, and other wired or wireless communicationschannels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerusable medium” are used to generally refer to transitory ornon-transitory media. Such media may be, e.g., memory 508, storage unit520, media 514, and channel 528. These and other various forms ofcomputer program media or computer usable media may be involved incarrying one or more sequences of one or more instructions to aprocessing device for execution. Such instructions embodied on themedium, are generally referred to as “computer program code” or a“computer program product” (which may be grouped in the form of computerprograms or other groupings). When executed, such instructions mightenable the computing component 500 to perform features or functions ofthe present application as discussed herein.

It should be understood that the various features, aspects andfunctionality described in one or more of the individual embodiments arenot limited in their applicability to the particular embodiment withwhich they are described. Instead, they can be applied, alone or invarious combinations, to one or more other embodiments, whether or notsuch embodiments are described and whether or not such features arepresented as being a part of a described embodiment. Thus, the breadthand scope of the present application should not be limited by any of theabove-described exemplary embodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof, unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing, the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like. The term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof. The terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known.” Terms of similar meaning should not be construed aslimiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given time. Instead, they should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Where this documentrefers to technologies that would be apparent or known to one ofordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass those apparent orknown to the skilled artisan now or at any time in the future.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “component” does not imply that the aspects or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the component are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various aspects of acomponent, whether control logic or other components, can be combined ina single package or separately maintained and can further be distributedin multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of geofenced control of a vehicle,comprising: determining a geographic region within which a vehicle isoperating; retrieving a geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region within which the vehicle is operating; and applyingthe retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle to alter the driving dynamicsof the vehicle to conform to driving characteristics of the determinedgeographic region within which the vehicle is operating.
 2. The methodof claim 1, further comprising determining whether an availablegeo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region iscompatible with the subject vehicle.
 3. The method of claim 2, whereindetermining whether an available geo-profile corresponding to thedetermined geographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle mayinclude determining whether the subject vehicle includes vehicle systemsthat are controllable by the geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the geo-profileidentifies a driving mode of the vehicle, and wherein applying thegeo-profile to the vehicle may include placing the vehicle in thedriving mode identified by the geo-profile.
 5. The method of claim 1,wherein the geo-profile identifies a plurality of vehicle settings, andwherein applying the geo-profile to the vehicle may include applying oneor more of those vehicle settings to the vehicle.
 6. The method of claim1, further comprising gathering vehicle operating characteristics datafrom a plurality of other vehicles operating in a geographic region andconstructing a geo-profile based on the vehicle operatingcharacteristics data for the geographic region.
 7. The method of claim1, further comprising gathering vehicle operating characteristics datafrom a plurality of infrastructure elements in a geographic region andconstructing a geo-profile based on the vehicle operatingcharacteristics data for the geographic region.
 8. The method of claim1, wherein the geo-profile is stored external to the vehicle andretrieving the geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographicmay include receiving at the vehicle the geo-profile from an externalstorage location.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein a profile systemexternal to the vehicle receives the position information to determinethe geographic region within which the vehicle is operating, identifiesa geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region,retrieves the geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographicregion and since the retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the vehicle retrieves the geo-profilecorresponding to the determined geographic region from a storagelocation on board the vehicle.
 11. A non-transitory machine-readablemedium having instructions stored therein, which when executed by aprocessor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operationscomprising: determining a geographic region within which a vehicle isoperating; retrieving a geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region within which the vehicle is operating; and applyingthe retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle to alter the driving dynamicsof the vehicle to conform to driving characteristics of the determinedgeographic region within which the vehicle is operating.
 12. Themachine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operations furthercomprise determining whether an available geo-profile corresponding tothe determined geographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle.13. The machine-readable medium of claim 12, wherein determining whetheran available geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographicregion is compatible with the subject vehicle may include determiningwhether the subject vehicle includes vehicle systems that arecontrollable by the geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region.
 14. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, whereinthe geo-profile identifies a driving mode of the vehicle, and whereinapplying the geo-profile to the vehicle may include placing the vehiclein the driving mode identified by the geo-profile.
 15. Themachine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the geo-profile identifiesa plurality of vehicle settings, and wherein applying the geo-profile tothe vehicle may include applying one or more of those vehicle settingsto the vehicle.
 16. The machine-readable medium of claim 11, furthercomprising gathering vehicle operating characteristics data from aplurality of other vehicles operating in a geographic region andconstructing a geo-profile based on the vehicle operatingcharacteristics data for the geographic region.
 17. The machine-readablemedium of claim 11, further comprising gathering vehicle operatingcharacteristics data from a plurality of infrastructure elements in ageographic region and constructing a geo-profile based on the vehicleoperating characteristics data for the geographic region.
 18. Themachine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the geo-profile is storedexternal to the vehicle and retrieving the geo-profile corresponding tothe determined geographic may include receiving at the vehicle thegeo-profile from an external storage location.
 19. The machine-readablemedium of claim 11, wherein a profile system external to the vehiclereceives the position information to determine the geographic regionwithin which the vehicle is operating, identifies a geo-profilecorresponding to the determined geographic region, retrieves thegeo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region and sincethe retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle.
 20. The machine-readablemedium of claim 11, wherein the vehicle retrieves the geo-profilecorresponding to the determined geographic region from a storagelocation on board the vehicle.
 21. A vehicle control system, comprising:a position determination system to determine a geographic region withinwhich a vehicle is operating; a driving mode circuit to retrieve ageo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region withinwhich the vehicle is operating; and wherein the driving mode circuit isfurther configured to apply the retrieved geo-profile to the vehicle toalter the driving dynamics of the vehicle to conform to drivingcharacteristics of the determined geographic region within which thevehicle is operating.
 22. The vehicle control system of claim 21,wherein the driving mode circuit is further configured to determinewhether an available geo-profile corresponding to the determinedgeographic region is compatible with the subject vehicle.
 23. Thevehicle control system of claim 22, wherein determining whether anavailable geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic regionis compatible with the subject vehicle may include determining whetherthe subject vehicle includes vehicle systems that are controllable bythe geo-profile corresponding to the determined geographic region. 24.The vehicle control system of claim 21, wherein the geo-profileidentifies a driving mode of the vehicle, and wherein applying thegeo-profile to the vehicle may include placing the vehicle in thedriving mode identified by the geo-profile.
 25. The vehicle controlsystem of claim 21, wherein the geo-profile identifies a plurality ofvehicle settings, and wherein applying the geo-profile to the vehiclemay include applying one or more of those vehicle settings to thevehicle.
 26. The vehicle control system of claim 21, further comprisinga profile system gathering vehicle operating characteristics data from aplurality of other vehicles operating in a geographic region andconstructing a geo-profile based on the vehicle operatingcharacteristics data for the geographic region.